Eleven people of two families were swept away on Monday following an abrupt surge in water level in a rivulet leading to Bagdari Fall, a picnic spot around 40km from Jabalpur district headquarters. Emergency workers recovered eight bodies from the spot by late Monday.

The lone survivor of the picnic group, a 20-year-old woman, was admitted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, the police said.

Twelve people belonging to the two related families crossed the rivulet with shallow waters to reach the picnic spot on Monday. Heavy rain, however, caused the water level to rise suddenly when they were on their way back.

Superintendent of police, Hari Narayanchari Mishra, said the strong current initially swept away one person. "All people including the children in the group attempted to save the man but could not tackle the current and were swept away," he said. They fell 100 feet from top of the waterfall after being swept away, Mishra added.

The 20-year-old was pulled out by people present near the rivulet, the police said.

A search and rescue team was looking for the three missing people till late on Monday.

The district administration has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of those killed in the accident.